The 2017 Peller Unity Cup is underway and Kajola Villa & Irepo United began with slim victories over Iseyin United and Olorunsogo Boys respectively at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Iseyin, Oyo State on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
The competition which is in honour of Late Professor Moshood Abiola Peller, had all the pomp and pageantry befitting of an opening ceremony.
Yekini Afeez’s solitary goal was all Kajola Villa needed to defeat Iseyin United in the opening Group A fixture. Iseyin United threw everything at Kajola Villa in the first half, resisting every offensive attack to leave the first half goalless. But the second half provided an opportunity for the away side to regroup and claim the victory to the admiration of the visiting away fans who went into wild jubilation.
The other fixture from Group E saw Irepo United also begin their campaign by defeating Olorunsogo Boys by the same margin in a contest largely dominated by the winning side.
Irepo United could have won by a larger margin but profligacy in front of goal and a missed penalty in the first half ensured that the game ended in a solitary second half goal scored by Wasiu Alagbade.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the organizer of the competition, Chief Shina Peller, re-reiterated that the 2017 Peller Unity Cup was organized for people of Iseyin, Oyo State and by extension footballers of Oke Ogun based on true, honest and non-political intentions was meant to foster, unite, develop and monitor the footballing talents of the youths of Oyo State.
He added that the event which coincided with the 20 year remembrance of his late father, Professor Moshood Abiola Peller.
“I am not doing this to show the amount of wealth I possess because competitions of this magnitude have been severally organized in Lagos State. But I thought it wise to also do same for where I come from which is Iseyin”.
Let me also use this medium to correct an erroneous impression that my gestures is geared towards vying for a political position or are politically motivated. I do not belong to any political party neither do I have any political ambition. All I am doing is corporate social responsibility as well as enjoy things I love doing“.
The Chairman, Aquila Group, later proceeded to perform a hostel foundation laying ceremony specifically for the usage of corp members serving in Iseyin, Oyo State.
Present at the opening ceremony were: Lady Peller (wife of Late Professor Abiola Peller), Chief Sule Abiola Peller (Chairman, Yoyo Bitters), the Peller family, Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan (Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs), representatives of the participating local government area youth from Oke-Ogun District, members of Oyo State House of Assembly, Representatives of the Oyo State Football Association and multiple award-winning music sensations David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido), Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan) alongside Aquila records finest Que Peller, Baseone, Airboy and Breezy.
Winners of the competition on Thursday, August 3, 2017 will smile home with N500,000 while the runners up and third-place team will get N300,000 and N150,000.
The Most Valuable Player and top scorer will be handed N50,000 each while the player who scores the first and last goal of the tournament are also in line to win mouth-watering prizes.
Matches continue in other groups with Itesiwaju Rangers spanking Iwajowa Athletics 4-0, Itesiwaju Lions defeated Atisbo Eagles 2-0, Oorelope City narrowly defeated Saki East by 2 goals to 1, Iseyin City won Kajola Blues 2-0 while Irepo Lions and Olorunsogo Warriors played out a goalless draw.
See more pictures from the event below:
